What can the Timberwolves do with three elections in the second round?

The new superpower The Minnesota Timberwolves front office faces its first test later this month in the 2022 NBA Draft. Due attention was paid to this how the team will use their choice in the first roundbut it is possible that the Wolves draft will be remembered for the way the team progresses in the second round.

Minnesota has three second-round choices: № 40 (from Washington via Cleveland), № 48 (own) and № 50 (from Denver via Philadelphia). Given the existing depth of the team and the contractual situation, it is hard to imagine that the Wolves will use all three player choices on the 2022-23 roster.

This, of course, begs the question: what will Minnesota do with this election? Here are some options.

Prospects to watch

Let’s start with who Minnesota can target at number 40. It’s the perfect place to pick a big man who can provide some depth of development and help Timberwolves defensive rebounds. Christian Calacco of Arizona, Jayline Williams of Arkansas, Ismael Camagate of Prisc Basketball and Orlando Robinson Jr. of Fresno are some of the centerpieces that could go into that range. Last week, Kamagate also trained with the Wolves. for Darren Wolfson of KSTP.

The bell could easily go away before choosing Minnesota, but he and Camagate conceived both sports runners on rims and paint protectors when they unfold. They have the athletic traits that teams look for in young big men.

Another option at number 40 – shooting on the type of high ceiling, low floor. Even if Minnesota gives up one of its participants in the second round, it will have enough capital to afford to risk one choice for growth.

In this range most of these swing players are big wings / forwards with athletics whose skills are still in a significant stage of development. These include John Butler Jr. of Florida, Josh Minot of Memphis and Peyton Watson of UCLA.

Butler demonstrates some guard skills despite a 7-0 determination, but he has a long way to go to read the game at a high level. The same knock goes to Minot and Watson, who have earned their limited collegial roles thanks to athletics and defense.

№ 48 and 50 provide Minnesota with collection and storage opportunities that will allow the team to invest in a potential participant without sacrificing space on a crowded list.

Hugo Besson of New Zealand Breakers and Gabriele Procida (who already worked for the Wolves) of Fortitudo Bologna are two intriguing options that could potentially stay in the NBA because of their perimeter. The Wolves could also return to the great man by choosing Ibu Dianko Baji or Yannick Nzos and keeping them in their teams abroad.

In the event that Minnesota changes the list and is required to take a reliable participant, there are several options with reliable skill sets. Andrew Nembhard of Hansa may become the next Thais Jones or Jordan McLaughlin with his experienced games, while Jabari Walker of Colorado and Julian Champagne of St. John in all-around, role-playing forwards.

Exchange again in 1 round?

The transition to the first round from the second is usually not a starting point in the NBA because the cost falls sharply from choice to choice. It may be this year, but there are a few factors that make it a little more plausible.

The first is the uncertainty and difference of opinion around this draft class. Athletic draft guru Sam Veteny has stated several times – both in articles and on it podcast – that there is little to distinguish between players who can go beyond the lottery and those who were selected at the end of the second round. Many teams could see value in trading one player in the first round for two seconds if they feel that all players in that range are equal.

In this sense, the second factor is the number of teams that have a late selection in the first round and without seconds. Teams opposing caps such as Philadelphia (№ 23), Milwaukee (№ 24), Dallas (№ 26) and Miami (№ 27) may want to pounce on a chance to get two hits from cheap depositors in the NBA Draft.

All of this means: if Minnesota sees a target she desperately wants after choosing at 19, it’s possible she might jump up and grab it. It all depends on how each team reads the draft board.

Exchange for a role player

Of course, Minnesota could split the difference and use one or two second-round choices to exchange for a known amount in the NBA.

According to John Hollinger of Athletic, The Los Angeles Lakers – who have no pick in the entire draft – are interested in buying a pick in the second round. This should be the last option for the Timberwolves, but perhaps Minnesota could take advantage of teams wishing to get into this draft.

Suns, Nates and Jazz join the Lakers as teams with zero pick. Can role-playing veterans like Tori Craig or Patty Mills be available for a package based on a second-round or two election?

The best way a team can go is to make the volume of the draft work in their favor and try to cover all the basics. The Wolves should single out one choice for the big man who is developing (the ideal outcome would be Camagate or Kaloko) and one in the hawmran who is encroaching on raw talent (Minot will give the team another forward leap and an underestimated rebound).

Another has to be sold to a team without a choice that is willing to overpay to get on the draft. If Minnesota doesn’t want to part with Leandro Bolmar or Malik Beasley, it’s unlikely anything like this will happen to a real player who wins now, so it makes sense to move the choice to future capital. Given the difficult situation in Los Angeles and Utah, holding the Lakers or Jazz in the second round in the next few years could be almost as valuable as participating in the first round.

The amount of Minnesota capital of the second round brings with it many options. However, one thing seems certain: Tim Connelly and Co. something about this set of elections.